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Today I installed the XM FM Direct Adaptor (XMFM1)which allows you to input the signal from your XM radio receiver directly into the vehicle's radio. This eliminates the need for the XM radio to "broadcast" its signal on an FM frequency for your vehicle radio to pick up. I live in northern NJ, with numerous FM stations and we experienced a problem with hiss and static with our XM radio. The FM Direct Adaptor eliminated these problems and vastly improved the signal quality coming from the XM unit.
Installing the unit is fairly straightforward, but the following tips may be helpful to others doing this job:
1. In addition to the FM Direct Adaptor, you will need the following additional parts:
a. A VW/Audi European Vehicle Antenna Adapter Cable. This is a connector from the factory antenna with flat plug to universal radio. This cable has the identical configuration as the antenna cable in the 9-5, with 3 or so plastic protrusions that "lock" the antenna cable to the radio cage. To remove the factory antenna cable from the radio cage you have to use a flat blade screwdriver to press these protrusions in in order to release the cable. The cable we got was made by Antennaworks, and is their part #40-VW10.
b. A VW/Audi European Vehicle Antenna Adapter Cable for factory radio with flat connector to universal antenna. The cable that we got was made by Antennaworks and is their part number40-VW20. You can get these cables from a local car radio shop.
2. You then need to remove the radio using a set of "U-shaped" removal tools. When you get the radio out, it also helps to pop out the dash unit with the heating/a/c controls.
3. Our XM unit is mounted on a 15" gooseneck mount attached to the left front passenger seat bolt, so the unit is close to the ashtray/shelf unit. Since you have to run two wires from the XM radio to the FM Direct Adaptor, we removed the ashtray/shelf by lifting it up from the center bottom with a small screwdriver and it just pops out. You can then run wires through this opening up to the FM Direct Adaptor adjacent to the radio cage.
Once you can deal with the radio removal, removing the antenna cable from the radio cage, and the ashtray/shelf removal, installation is a very straight forward and should only take 15 minutes or so.
Oh yes,the cost of all this:
FM Direct Adaptor $19.99 (Crutchfield)
Adaptor cables $40.00 (local radio shop, but you probably can find these things online for less money)
So, at last, no more hiss, FM interference, just great sound from the XM.
posted by 69.116.22...
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